Wrapping device

ABSTRACT

A wrapping device for binding and holding together a plurality of items, such as cables, and feature a clip or cleat which securely holds a length of longitudinally resilient cord or the like wrapped in tension about said items. In one form, a plurality of cleats are integrally molded together in series to facilitate their use.

United States Patent Appleton [451 Apr. 11, 1972 541 WRAPPING DEVICE2,533,341 12/1950 Alfano ..24/129 ux [72] Inventor: Arthur L Appleton1701 w wellington 2,860,393 11/1958 Brock ..24/PB do A leton Electric CoNorthbrook 3,147,522 9/1964 Schumm ..24/30.5 PB m 5 1 3,043,902 7/1962Klein ..24/s1cc x 3,160,175 12/1964 Laemmle ..24/81 CC UX [22] Filed:May 15, 1970 3,521,332 7/1970 Kramer ..24/81 CC [2]] pp 37 627 3,241,6583/1966 Anderson ..206/56 ABX Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin [52] US.Cl. ..24/ 16 R, 24/ l 30 Attorney-Jon L. Liljequist [51] lnt.Cl. ..A44b21/00 [58] Field of Search ..229/62; 24/30.5, 16 PB, 30.5 PB, [57]ABSTRACT 24/129 129 129 81 CC Afn'rapping dzvice foglbindingiaid holdingtlogetherla plurglitg terns, suc as ca es, an eature a c 1p or c eat w11: [56] References Cited 2 l ecurely holds a length of longitudinallyres1l1ent cord or the like wrapped in tension about said items. In oneform, a plu- UNITED STATES PATENTS rality of cleats are integrallymolded together in series to llughes f ili theirusa etersen 1,870,1728/1932 Buschhaus ..24/ 129 B 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures WRAPPING DEVICEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There has relatively recently occurred onthe market a relatively large number of differing devices for thepurpose of binding a plurality of elongate elements such as cables toone another. Where the device is specifically intended to hold aplurality of cables together, the manufacturer typically produces anentire line of binding devices of different sizes for holding differentsizes of bundles together. Some of these manufacturers even produceseveral different styles. Most Tie Wraps or Cable Wraps, as they areknown, are made of nylon or a comparable material, and each unit has arelatively narrow range of use. Several currently popular models roughlyresemble a belt in function although they normally are considerablysmaller. In some cases, special tools are required to tighten and lockthe wraps once they are in place, both because of the relativelynon-elastic property of nylon and the desirability of putting the wrapunder considerable tension.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a wrappingdevice which is usable over an exceptionally wide range of applications.When used in conjunction with cables, one basic size and style can beused to efiectively bind items of vastly different size and shape, thusavoiding the necessity of carrying a number of differently sizedwrapping devices in stock. Also, the user of the invention can apply anydesirable degree of tension to the wrap without recourse to specialtools. The simplicity and universality of the device permits it to beused with comparable effectiveness in numerous binding situations,including wrapping cables, holding parts together that are in process ofbeing glued, and providing a temporary repair to broken items until theycan be repaired. An example of this latter application would be where amast on a small sailing craft broke and required temporary mending untilthe craft could get to shore.

The invention is achieved by wrapping that which is to be bound togetherwith a length of resilient tubing, and using in conjunction therewith aspecial clip or cleat, provided preferably in quantity in a stick ofcontiguous cleats, which serves to hold the tubing in place and preventunraveling, yet permits the tubing to be unwound and removed withoutdamage or injury thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of contiguouscleats or clips which embody the principles of the present invention inone of its preferred forms.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one technique by which the stick ofcontiguous cleats can be used in conjunction with resilient cord to binda plurality of elements together.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing several different ways that thecleat can be used to assist in binding or whipping a plurality ofcables.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the contiguous cleat shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cleat portion shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a modification of the device for the specific purpose ofassisting in the continuous winding of cord between fixedly spaced apartcleats.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another variation of the cleat, thedashed lines showing how a plurality thereof can be integrally formed.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of an individual cleat as shown in FIG. 7,this view also including the binding cord wrapped around a bundle ofcylindrically shaped objects.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,there is best shown in FIG. 1, an elongate stick of contiguous cleats,generally designated 10, consisting of a plurality of individual cleats11 which are connected in series by means of integrally molded bridgingconnections 12. These cleats are used in conjunction with lengths oflongitudinally resilient tubing or cord 14 of polyeurethane or acomparable material, (see FIGS. 2 and 3). While the specific materialpreferred is tubing, we will use the term cord as generic to anydesirable cross sectional shape. Preferably, the stick 10 is constructedof a suitable and inexpensive material such as nylon, and preferably itis injection molded to the exact shape shown. Any reasonable number ofindividual cleats 11 could naturally be molded together, although thepreferred number depends somewhat on the most desirable total length forthe stick 10 to avoid its becoming clumsy. All of the individual cleats11 are identical with one another with the exception of the lead cleat11a and the end cleat 11b. The front end of the lead clip 11a includes agenerally cylindrically shaped projection 13 which can be fixedlysnapped or slipped into a mating cylindrical groove 15 in the rear ofthe end cleat 11b of another similar stick of cleats to thereby extendthe overall length of the stick. The advantage of this feature willbecome apparent later.

As noted before, all of the intermediate cleats l l are of exactly thesame shape. Thus, with reference to an individual cleat 11, the cleatincludes a pair of spaced apart walls 16 and 17, a bottom wall 18, frontand rear end walls 20 and 21 respectively, and an undulating upper wall22. In side elevation, upper wall 22 has the general shape of a W" so asto form access means in the form of a pair of troughs 23. Each oftroughs 23 may be thought of as a portion of an inwardly extendingchannel into which the cord 14 can be forced. Each channel extendslaterally between side walls 16 and 17, and each channel also includesan aligned slot and a hole in addition to the trough 23, these otherportions to be described shortly. Preferably, the intersections 25 wherethe upper wall 22 meets sidewalls l6 and 17 are smoothly rounded with agenerous radius.

Extending entirely through the cleat 11 between its sidewalls l6 and 17are a pair of parallel and cylindrical holes 26, each underlying andspaced from one of the troughs 23. The diameter of the central portion27 of the holes 26 is somewhat less than the outer diameter of the cord14, while the outermost portions 28 of the holes 26 are slightly greaterthan the diameter of the cord. Preferably, the intersections formed bythe central portion 27 and outermost portions 28 of holes 26 are sharpfor reasons to be described later.

Troughs 23 each communicate with the hole 26 therebelow by means of anarrow slot 29, this slot also extending entirely between sidewalls 16and 17.

Extending outwardly away from each of the end walls 20 and 21 is theintegrally molded bridging connection 12 which extends to and isintegrally molded with another cleat 11 on each side. The bridgingconnection 12 is substantial enough to provide a considerable degree ofrigidity to the entire stick of cleats 11, yet is small enough to permita relatively easy separation of adjoining cleats by pulling or turningor the like.

It will be understood that one or more individual cleats can be usedwith a single length of flexible tubing. Where more than one individualcleat is used, they may be connected as shown at the right in FIG. 3, orthey may be disconnected as shown at the left in FIG. 3.

In discussing the use of the stick form of contiguous cleats, referenceis made initially to FIG. 2. Regardless of the type of item to be boundtogether, whether this be temporary, as in the case of holding a gluejoint together, or semipermanent, as in holding cables together, acontiguous cleat 10 is properly positioned relative to the items to bewrapped and is held by hand. One end 40 of a short length of the cord 14is laid in one of the troughs 23 of an individual cleat and held thereperhaps with the thumb while the other end 41 is pulled to stretch thetubing and decrease its diameter. The cord 14 will then snap into thecylindrical hole 26 via slot 29. End 41 is then manually circled aroundthe bundle of elements 35 and pulled to whatever degree of tension isdesired, and then it is likewise snapped into the other cylindrical hole26 in the same cleat 11. Excess tubing may be snipped off, and the sharpedges defining the transverse limits of central portion 27 of hole 26dig into the unstretched and full-diameter ends 40 and 41 of the cord 14to prevent it from slipping under the tensile force of the intermediateportions 43 of the cord 14. While the ends 40 and 41 are shown extendingoutwardly of the cleat, they can be snipped off flush with side walls 16and 17 with no fear of destroying the grip, because of enlarged holeportions 28. If only this one loop is desired at this point, the rest ofthe stick of individual cleats can be broken away leaving only that onewhich is bound with the one loop of flexible cord 14. The person doingthe tying can then move the stick to a new location and repeat theoperation.

If, on the other hand, a number of relatively closely spaced loops aredesired, the individual could continue wrapping over any length ofcontiguous cleats 10, as shown at the right in FIG. 3, or he can startwith one cleat 11 and continue to wrap in spaced apart or adjacentfashion with the cord 14, and later terminate the wrap with anotherindividual cleat 11, as shown at the left in FIG. 3.

The invention as described above can be sold in stick form with aplurality of series connected individual cleats, or cleats can be soldindividually with appropriate lengths of tubing.

When a stick of contiguous cleats 11 becomes too short to be held byhand comfortably after a number of individual cleats have been removed,this small remaining portion will have at its unused end either thecylindrical projection 13 or the mating cylindrical groove 15. Whicheverend remains can be connected to one of the ends of a new contiguouscleat 10. Thus, the user of the device need never be faced withattempting to hold a very short length of contiguous cleats whenstarting a wrapping operation.

FIG. 6 shows a slight modification of the invention for the situationwhere it is desired to wrap items together over a given length with aproper termination at each end, such as already described in referenceto the left-most figure of FIG. 3. As will be understood, the device 50of FIG. would take the place of the two individual cleats 11 shown atthe left in FIG. 3, and it facilitates a continuous winding.

Device 50 has portions 51 and 52 at its respective ends, each of whichclosely resembles the individual cleats 11 of the earlier describedform. Portions 51 and 52 are held in spaced apart relation by anintegrally molded spacer 53.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a further modification of the cleat which displayscertain other features. An individual cleat 60 is of generally C shapeand includes an upper surface 61 defined in part by a divided trough 62extending between laterally spaced apart and outer sidewalls 63 and 64.Below trough 62, and parallel thereto, is an elongate cylindrical hole66 also extending between sidewalls 63 and 64. Hole 66 is of i the samegeneral size and shape as the holes 26 in the first describedembodiment. Trough 62 and hole 66 communicate with one another alongtheir length by means of a narrow slot 67 therebetween.

Interrupting trough 62, hole 66 and slot 67 in the midportions of thecleat 60 is an enlarged central opening 70, which, in combination with aside entrance 71, forms the generally C- shaped configuration in planview.

A pair of bridging connections 73 permit a plurality of cleats 60 to beintegrally molded in series and in a contiguous stick, and once again,the leading cleat and end cleat may be provided with complimentaryinterlocking means (not shown) similar to projection 13 and groove ofthe first mentioned embodiment.

To use this cleat variation, a length of cord 14 is looped around thebundle of elements to be bound, and the two cord ends 40 and 41 areeither threaded through central opening 70 or snapped therein by makinguse of side entrance 71. The two ends 40 and 41 are then grasped andpulled in opposite directions from one another to stretch and put thecord 14 in tension. As a result, the cord decreases in diameter suchthat each of the ends 40 and 41 snap into each of the laterally disposedportions of hole 66. Upon removing the tension by bringing the handsback together, the tubing expands sufficiently to be compressed by thediametrically smaller hole 26, and particularly its outermost sharpedges, and the intermediate portion 43 of the tubing is retained in itselongated and loaded condition. Excess tubing can be snipped off fromthe ends 40 and 41 whereupon the wrapping takes on the generalappearance of FIG. 8.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing description, while limited toseveral preferred embodiments of the present invention, is in no wayintended to limit the protection afforded hereby to the specificembodiments illustrated. Rather, naturally, the variations describedhereinbefore each contain features which might successfully beincorporated into or combined with features of other variations,hereinshown or not, to satisfy a particular need. Thus, the inventionshould not be construed as limited to the specific configurations shownand described, but rather by the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A wrapping device for use in wrapping and holding together aplurality of objects comprising: a length of longitudinally resilientcord for encircling said objects and holding them together; and a cleatfor grasping said cord and maintaining tension in same, said cleatdefined in part by a pair of holes extending therethrough, each holedesigned to grasp and hold a different end of said cord, the distanceacross said hole being roughly comparable to the cross-sectionaldimension of the cord when stretched to permit entry of the cord thereinwhen stretched and hold the cord against slipping when released, andaccess means also forming a part of said cleat and positioned contiguousto the length of each of said holes and opening outwardly of said cleatfor assisting introduction of the cord into said hole, said pair ofholes including sharp edge means for biting into said cord andpreventing same from slipping, said cleat forming one of a plurality ofintegrally molded and contiguous cleats.

2. The wrapping device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the portion ofeach of said holes adjacent the unstretched end of the cord is enlargedto permit the ends to-be snipped off flush with the extremities of thecleat without diminishing its holding ability.

3. The wrapping device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pair ofholes in said cleat are generally parallel.

4. The wrapping device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cleat isgenerally C-shaped and said pair of holes are generally longitudinallyaligned, each of said pair of holes including a sharp edge to bite intosaid cord and prevent slipping thereof.

5. An improved wrapping device for holding a plurality of objectstogether in conjunction with a resilient cord having opposite ends,comprising: an elongate stick of a size that fits comfortably within ahuman hand and consisting of a series connected plurality of individualclips, adjacent clips being attached together by integral bridgingconnections of a size and configuration that are readily breakable tothus permit an individual clip to be broken away from the remainingportion of the stick, and each clip including an integrally formed bodyhaving laterally spaced apart sidewalls with channel means therebetweenfor receiving said cord transversely of the length of said stick whilethe clip remains a part thereof, said channel means being of a widthless than the diameter of said cord to cause a constriction of same wheninserted therein, said channel means also including an enlarged sideentrance for facilitating introduction of the cord therein.

6. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said main body includes acentral opening extending through and intersecting said channel means todivide said channel means into apair of axially aligned individualchannels extending transversely of said longitudinal stick, said centralopening being arranged to receive said opposite ends whereupon they canbe pulled apart to put the remainder of the cord in tension around theplurality of objects.

7. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said stick ineludesintegrally formed means at each longitudinal end for interconnecting apair of sticks and providing an increased overall length.

1. A wrapping device for use in wrapping and holding together a plurality of objects comprising: a length of longitudinally resilient cord for encircling said objects and holding them together; and a cleat for grasping said cord and maintaining tension in same, said cleat defined in part by a pair of holes extending therethrough, each hole designed to grasp and hold a different end of said cord, the distance across said hole being roughly comparable to the cross-sectional dimension of the cord when stretched to permit entry of the cord therein when stretched and hold the cord against slipping when released, and access means also forming a part of said cleat and positioned contiguous to the length of each of said holes and opening outwardly of said cleat for assisting introduction of the cord into said hole, said pair of holes including sharp edge means for biting into said cord and preventing same from slipping, said cleat forming one of a plurality of integrally molded and contiguous cleats.
 2. The wrapping device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the portion of each of said holes adjacent the unstretched end of the cord is enlarged to permit the ends to be snipped off flush with the extremities of the cleat without diminishing its holding ability.
 3. The wrapping device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pair of holes in said cleat are generally parallel.
 4. The wrapping device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cleat is generally C-shaped and said pair of holes are generally loNgitudinally aligned, each of said pair of holes including a sharp edge to bite into said cord and prevent slipping thereof.
 5. An improved wrapping device for holding a plurality of objects together in conjunction with a resilient cord having opposite ends, comprising: an elongate stick of a size that fits comfortably within a human hand and consisting of a series connected plurality of individual clips, adjacent clips being attached together by integral bridging connections of a size and configuration that are readily breakable to thus permit an individual clip to be broken away from the remaining portion of the stick, and each clip including an integrally formed body having laterally spaced apart sidewalls with channel means therebetween for receiving said cord transversely of the length of said stick while the clip remains a part thereof, said channel means being of a width less than the diameter of said cord to cause a constriction of same when inserted therein, said channel means also including an enlarged side entrance for facilitating introduction of the cord therein.
 6. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said main body includes a central opening extending through and intersecting said channel means to divide said channel means into a pair of axially aligned individual channels extending transversely of said longitudinal stick, said central opening being arranged to receive said opposite ends whereupon they can be pulled apart to put the remainder of the cord in tension around the plurality of objects.
 7. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said stick includes integrally formed means at each longitudinal end for interconnecting a pair of sticks and providing an increased overall length. 